Teaching in conflict contexts: dimensions of subjective wellbeing in Palestinian teachers living in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory

Publication date: 21 February 2018 Source:The Lancet, Volume 391, Supplement 2 Author(s): Alessandro Pepe, Loredana Addimando, Jamal Dagdouke, Shaher Yagi, Guido Veronese Background Subjective wellbeing can be defined in terms of good mental state, including positive and negative evaluations that people make of their affect and lives. The aim of this study was to identify specific domains of wellbeing that are salient to Palestinian teachers living in three different contexts (West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel) and to map how components of subjective wellbeing vary between the three cohorts. Methods Data were gathered from interviews of teachers participating in 16 focus groups and from 36 key informants (including psychologists, counsellors, school principals, lawyers). Participants were divided into three groups according to their working locations. Data were analysed by using a mixed-method approach. We used thematic textual analysis, and data were cross-validated with results of statistical significance of lexical specificities (ie, domain-specific terms extracted from specific participants' lexicon) and semantic network analysis. Findings We interviewed 104 teachers. First-order hierarchical categorisation of thematic analysis revealed four dimensions of subjective wellbeing: psychosocial, professional-related, economic issues, and contextual factors. Some second-order subcategories were quality of teaching work, personality aspects, emotional dimensions, politi...
Source: The Lancet - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research